Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

4'55

their lives, but very few lived, which put their whole army in fome dread, by obfervingwhat quarter they might expect if any of them were taken prifoners.

The religion of Java is partly Mahometan and partly Pagan. The Pagans choofewomen to be priefteifes, and they are generally old, and well fldlled in witchcraft. Andit is reported, that they have frequent converfation with the devil, who appears to themin an horrid monilrous fhape, and the priefteifes facrifice an hog to him. The Emperorrefides at an inland town called Cartafouri, about three days’ journey from Samarang,where I will leave him, and proceed to

The iftand of Madura, that produces nothing for a foreign maket, but deer-ikins.They may be had in great abundance, and very cheap. This iiland confronts Java toits very eafternmoft point. I have no knowledge of the iflands to the eaftward of Java,but what I have had by information from the Dutch , who are the only poifelfors of thatcommerce, except two Englifh Ihips that fell in among fome of thofe iflands, and fo Iwill go on in thofe lame obfervations and remarks.

I obferved before, that Sorobay was the eafternmoft fettlement the Dutch have onJava, neither have they any footing, that I have heard of, on the fouth fide of thatiiland, though the natives are pretty well civilized ; and as ihips from Europe fall inwith that coaft, they will bring off provifions to fell them, particularly if they feeEngliih colours, for very often the Dutch buy their commodities, but pay nothingfor them.

The iiland of Bally lies next Java to the eaftward. It abounds in provifions for theinhabitants, but affords nothing fit for exportation. The natives are daring and bold,even to defperation. Many of them enter in the Dutch fervice, and make good foldiers.Between Java and Bally are the Streights of Bally.

Lambock is next Bally to the eaftward, and about the fame magnitude. It producesthe fame neceffaries as Bally, but nothing to export.

Combava is next to Lambock to the eaftward, an iiland as big as both the laft twomentioned. It produces nothing for export. Between it and Lambock are theStreights of Allafs, named from a town {landing on the ihore, about the middle ofthe {freights.

The next iflands to the eaftward of Combava, are the two iflands of Sappi, of final!'account in commerce, and fo is

The iiland of Flores to the eaftward of them, though it is an iiland above 50 leaguesJong and 18 broad. In anno 1703, Captain Wright, in the Leghorn galley, loft hispaflage from Banjar on Borneo , to Batavia, and by contrary winds, and ftrong currents,Was driven to this iiland, and anchored at a town on the weft end of it, called Larren-toucka. Finding the place convenient and fafe to pafs three or four months of theWefterly monfoons, he took an houfe afnore, and kept fome time one part of hisflip’s crew alhore, and fometimes another, to refreih them. He gave warning to thepeople of the town not to truft his men, but they, minding their own profit, had truftedthe feamen about iool. fterling. A little before he was ready to fail, the creditorscame and demanded their money. He refufed payment, alledging, that a public crierhad gone through the town forbidding any body to trull his men, and that crier wasordered by a magiftrate to proclaim the prohibition. The creditors faid it was truethey couM not recover any thing by law, but if he valued his own health he wouldfatisfy them, if not in all, yet in part, and fo he paid one half; which moil of themWe re content with, but one old witch was not, but threatened his deftruction, if ihe hadn °t all her demand paid.

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